Travelling has certainly been put on hold for many at the moment but with next year looking a bit more hopeful it could mean that family holidays are back on the cards.

If you have children then you will probably already of experienced how hard it can be when travelling long distances. Your journey may include car trips, aeroplane rides and even a stint on a boat or ferry. IF you are travelling to places such as South Africa from the UK then you may have to get a number of connecting flights and possibly even smaller flights to your final destination. For a child, all this time where they have to sit still can be hard and they often get bored. This can lead to them playing up of starting to get grumpy. It is important to plan ahead as much as you can when it comes to travel. Make sure tablets or gaming devices are charged and that they have plenty of activities to do. You may also want to pack them a packed lunch o ensure they do not get hungry.

Sometimes, if possible, it is better to travel through the night as they are more likely to sleep then.

If you love wildlife and want to get a true experience of what it is like to see them in their natural environment then a safari holiday is just for you. South Africa is one of the if not the most popular destination for a safari and this is due to its diverse wildlife and climate. Many of the safari tour groups in South Africa have years of experience so can ensure you have an amazing experience.

You need to spend some time researching the different areas in South Africa and time of year you are thinking of going to get a true picture of what type of wildlife you will expect to see. Some people automatically assume that they will see Lions, Elephants, Wildebeests etc no matter when or where they go but this is not always true.

Some animals are found in some areas and not others and often they are more likely to be seen at certain times of the year. Your tour operator will be able to discuss with you when is best to go to see the animals you want to see.

If you really want to see the gorillas then you may want to consider booking a gorilla trek rather than a jeep safari as this is the only way to get up close to the animals.

A safari holiday can be an amazing experience and although it is not something you may be able to do at present with Covid restrictions, it doesn’t mean you cant still plan for it and do your research.

Certain wildlife is native to particular areas and often you will find a higher population in one area to another. If there is a specific animal you wish to see then you need to check that not only are they found in the place that you are going but also during that time of year. The time of year you go affects the amount and types of wildlife around as some animals prefer to be out in the hot wet climate whilst others are more active in the cooler, drier months. During the drier months in places such as South Africa, animals tend to congregate around the water holes.

Before booking a safari holiday have a chat with the tour operator and explain what experience you are looking for and what animals you would like to see. Although they cannot guarantee what experience you will have, they know the places to go to give you the best opportunity.

Every day on a safari is different, so if you do not see what you hoped to the first time you may well the next.

Although South Africa is not currently allowing tourists to fly there following the Covid outbreak, it won’t be long before people are able to enjoy the amazing sights and sounds that an African safari has to offer.

When going on a safari you will probably be expecting to see some of the most common types of animals such as the lions, elephants and buffalo, but what about the other animals that are not so common that you may encounter?

Nocturnal, secretive and decreasing in numbers, the Pangolin is difficult to spot in the wild. The animal is covered in scales that overlap and when it feels threatened it rolls up into a ball that is very hard to penetrate to protect its underside.  They usually walk on their back legs and its tail is important for balance.

If you are very quite and ideally have a decent pair of binoculars then you might be lucky enough to see an elephant shrew. With its long trunk like nose, it is easy to see where it gets its name from. It is one of the fastest small mammals on earth reaching speeds of over 28kmh! Because of this, you may only ever get a quick glimpse of them.

With many students receiving their exam results over the next few weeks, now may be the time to start to think about what sort of thing you want to do once the summer is over. It may be that you are going into further education or even employment or it may be that you want to explore the world a little more.

If you love animals and are happy to travel then a job as a wildlife volunteer in South Africa may be the perfect opportunity for you.

South Africa is home to a wide range of wildlife from tigers, lions, elephants through to snakes and spiders. Many species found in South Africa are sadly becoming endangered and if you want to help with this situation then why not consider becoming a wildlife volunteer. The job often allows you to stay on site in one of or near to the nature reserves and often accommodation and food is given to you in exchange for your time.

Not only will you get to help endangered wildlife but you will also get the opportunity to discover South Africa up close and experience all it has to offer.

Family holidays can be a great way to get away and unwind without having to content with the day to day tasks you have at home such as work and cleaning. It is the ideal time to find out what each other enjoy doing and try to fit that into your schedule.

Lots of people go on holiday simply to relax and are happy to spend all day every day either by the pool or on the beach. Others like to explore a little more and do some sightseeing. This may involve a lot of walking and for smaller children, this simply may be too much for them and you may find that you have to cut your tour short. If you have a child in a pushchair then you may find that some routes are not safe or easy to go on with a buggy so you need to rethink your trips.

If you are planning some sightseeing when on holiday with children, especially young ones, then you need to plan ahead. Rather than just going off on a walk, try and plan out your route and check out the terrain.

Sightseeing can be boring for children, so try and plan in some activities for them to do along the way.

If you are an avid traveller or just someone who like to make your travel as easy and enjoyable as possible then you should invest in some of these gadgets and accessories. For many of us, the travelling part of getting to a destination is not something we look forward to. It may be that are travelling with children and need something to keep them entertained, or that you are going to have to wait at the airport in between flights for a number of hours and need something to beat the boredom. Travel games can be perfect for this, They take up little room and can bring hours of entertainment. Some of these games can be played on your own, others will require other people.

A sat nav system is a great investment if you do a lot of travelling. It can save you hours of wasted travel time taking the wrong turn or hitting traffic that could have been avoided with rerouting which is on most sat nav systems. Sat Navs can start from around £40 but if you don’t want to invest in one then Google Maps free app works really well. You do not necessarily have to fork out on an expensive sat nav system as most smart phones are capable of using an app or website such as Google maps as a navigation system.

Many people worry about their safety when travelling abroad on holiday especially if you are holidaying in a country outside Europe however the good news is that travelling in South Africa is safe if you are careful and do not take unnecessary risks.

It is always better to travel with another person if possible so if you have gone on holiday alone it is sometimes possible to link up with someone else travelling alone for parts of your journey. As long as you travel on public transport there should not be a problem.

You will need to be particularly careful about your belongings especially if you venture into the markets or towns where you may fall prey to pickpockets. It is sensible to only carry a small amount of currency with you and to use a pre-paid card for purchases in hotels etc. If you hire a car so that you can explore the area check with the tourist board which areas are safe to travel to and make sure that any valuables such as cameras and mobile devices are stored out of sight.

As long as you stay aware and take sensible precautions your travel in South Africa should be incident free.

South African wine has been produced for hundreds of years and a tour of its vineyards and impressive wine estates is a must for any serious wine drinker.

A wine tour can be tailor made to your requirements and booked through one of the companies that offer this service. Estate safaris and gourmet wine experiences are also available to add a touch of luxury to your holiday. Most wine estates have brilliant restaurants on site so if you are hungry after your tour you can partake of some traditional South African fare washed down with excellent wine.

Your amazing wine tour can be combined with alternative activities to further enhance your holiday such as a visit to a penguin colony or a boat cruise where you may be able to see magnificent whales in their natural setting. Some tour operators offer an outstanding cultural experience alongside the wine estate tour as South Africa has a rich heritage of art including sculpture and music. Visiting a South African sculpture garden is an amazing experience and certainly worthwhile if you are an art lover. Combine this with the chance to taste the delicious wine of the region and you will feel as if you’re in heaven.

A holiday to South Africa is for many a once in a lifetime experience and as such should be planned carefully so that lifelong memories are made, and negative outcomes are avoided as much as possible. Before you embark on your trip, check which vaccinations are required four to six weeks before the date of travel so that you are prepared.

Safety on your trip is paramount and so expert guidance needs to be followed before and during your trip. Embarking on a guided trip, especially if it is your first visit to South Africa is probably a wise move and will give you the reassurance you need so that you can relax and enjoy your experience.

It is important to stay within the confines of your resort unless it is safe to do so. Remember that you will be unfamiliar with the locality and so will not be aware of any places that may not be safe for tourists. Again, guided tours of local markets and tourist attractions are the best way to see the local area safely.

Think carefully about carrying large sums of money on your person and instead use a credit card for purchases where possible. Most hotels and bars or restaurants offer this method of payment.